Bridging in Biodiversity Science

Bridging in Biodiversity Science (BIBS) was built on the existing, long-term research strategies of the BBIB institutions. The overarching goal of BBIB was to bridge disciplines, scales and systems in biodiversity research. The BIBS project has constituted a core study within the BBIB framework, aiming to provide a proof-of-principle for the bridging approach. Focusing on ‘rapid transitions of ecological systems’ and novel stressors like microplastic, BIBS conducted studies at key interfaces commonly neglected in conventional biodiversity research and evaluated the added value and limitations of the bridging concept.

The work packages within BIBS were designed to study the entire chain of causes, mechanisms and consequences of rapid transitions across different ecosystems and spatio-temporal scales. The results are collated in an overall synthesis, with conceptual publications intended for the scientific community, policy makers and the general public.

The work packages were focused on bridging research in:

• Aquatic-terrestrial coupling
• Rural-urban coupling
• Aboveground-belowground coupling
• Transitions from natural to novel communities

Furthermore, BIBS comprised a Citizen Science component which aimed to bridge science, policy makers and citizens by supporting research, engaging and integrating the public. To this end, we established a platform for knowledge exchange with policy and society. BIBS has also established a dedicated experimental research platform (ScapeLabs), which permitted the work proposed in the work packages.

With its unique focus, BIBS was a project that complemented existing biodiversity research projects and programs in Germany and beyond.

The BIBS project was funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research from 2016 - 2021.